Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Tampon with First and Second Regions Having Different Absorbencies
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a tampon, in particular for feminine hygiene, with
an introduction end, with a recovery end, from which a withdrawal string
extends,
with a first region which extends from the introduction end in the direction
of the
recovery end and comprises a first material, and with a second region which is
located near the recovery end of the tampon and comprises a second material,
the
first material having a higher absorbency and a higher hydrophilicity than the
second material.
Background of the Invention
In-vivo functionality tests have shown that most of the conventional
tampons have a leakage before the theoretical maximum absorption capacity is
exhausted. Many efforts have been made in the past in order to reduce said
leakage.
Thus, for example, US 6,258,075 B1 discloses generic tampons, in each
case for use within the vaginal opening of a user, in which, in each case, a
first
region of the tampon extends from an introduction end as far as a recovery end
of
the tampon and a second region is located at the recovery end of the tampon,
with a
diameter perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the tampon which is
smaller
than that of the first region, in particular at the recovery end. The second
region is
in this case intended essentially to prevent body fluid from being capable of
penetrating as far as.the withdrawal string, thus leading to a reduction of
leakage.
For this purpose, at least some fluid penetrating as far as the recovery end
is to be
forced, via the second region, to be directed back into the first region and
absorbed
there. Such a deflection of a fluid flow can be achieved, using a
hydrophilicity
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gradient according to which the second region is less hydrophilic than the
first
region. One disadvantage is that a tampon according to US 6 258 075 131 has
only a reduction of the leakage via the withdrawal string, but without being
efficient
with regard to preventing a bypass leakage.
Brief Description of the Invention
An object of some embodiments of the present invention is to
provide a tampon with a structure that substantially reduces leakage from the
tampon during use.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a tampon, in
particular for feminine hygiene, with an introduction end, with a recovery
end, from
which a withdrawal string extends is disclosed. The tampon has a first region
which extends from the introduction end in the direction of the recovery end
and
comprises a first material, and with a second region which is located near the
recovery end of the tampon and comprises a second material. The first material
has a higher absorbency and a higher hydrophilicity than the second material.
The diameter of the second region (essentially perpendicularly to the
longitudinal
axis of the tampon) is at least as large as the mean diameter of the first
region of
the tampon, and the second region expands at least essentially perpendicularly
to
the longitudinal axis of the tampon.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, there is
provided a tampon having an introduction end and a recovery end disposed at
opposite ends of a longitudinal axis, the tampon comprising: a) a first region
which
extends from the introduction end toward the recovery end and comprises a
first
material, and b) a second region which is located proximate the recovery end
of
the tampon and comprises a second material, the first material having a higher
absorbency and a higher hydrophilicity than the second material; wherein the
second material comprises hydrophilic fibres and at least approximately 70 wt-
%
hydrophobic fibres, wherein the diameter of the second region is at least as
large
as the mean diameter of the first region as measured essentially
perpendicularly
to the longitudinal axis, and during the absorption of fluid, the second
region
expands at least essentially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the
tampon.
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Brief Description of the Drawing
The present invention will be more fully understood and further
advantages will become apparent when reference is made to the following
detailed description of the invention and the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a sectional view through a tampon according to the
invention.
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Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
The invention is thus based on the surprising finding that, in addition to the
use of a hydrophilicity gradient over the length of a tampon for the purpose
of
increasing the quantity of fluid absorbed in a tampon and increasing the dwell
time
of fluid in the tampon, in that hydrophobic properties exist in the region of
the
recovery end of the tampon, the second region, when the tampon is placed in a
vaginal opening, this second region also expands (swells up) in the event of
the
absorption of fluid, so that the vaginal opening can be closed off relative to
the
outside to an increased extent for the purpose of the reduction of bypass
leakage.
Assuming a tampon that has essentially the same diameter over its complete
longitudinal extent before use and is introduced completely into a vaginal
opening
and fluid impinges onto the second region, part of the fluid is deflected in
the
direction of the first region. Another part of the fluid ensures an expansion
of the
second region that leads to a plug-like closure of the vaginal opening. Thus,
according to the invention, the second region ensures leakage reduction in two
respects.
Absorbent materials useful in the formation of the tampon include fiber,
foam, superabsorbent, hydrogels, and the like. Preferred absorbent material
for the
present invention includes foam and fiber. Absorbent foams may include
hydrophilic foams, foams that are readily wetted by aqueous fluids as well as
foams in which the cell walls that form the foam themselves absorb fluid.
Preferably, the fibers employed in the formation of the tampon include
regenerated cellulosic fiber, natural fibers and synthetic fibers. Preferably,
the
materials employed in the formation of a tampon according to the present
invention include fiber, foam, hydrogels, wood pulp, and the like. A useful,
non-
limiting list of useful tampon fibers includes natural fibers such as cotton,
wood
pulp, jute, and the like; and processed fibers such as regenerated cellulose,
cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, rayon, polyester, polyvinyl alcohol,
polyolefin,
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polyamine, polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, and the like. Other fibers in
addition to
the above fibers may be included to add desirable characteristics to the
tampon.
Preferably, tampon fibers are rayon or cotton, and more preferably, the fibers
are
rayon. The fibers may have any useful cross-section.
Fiber cross-sections include multi-limbed and non-limbed. Multi-limbed,
regenerated cellulosic fibers have been commercially available for a number of
years. These fibers are known to possess increased specific absorbency over
non-
limbed fibers. A commercial example of these fibers is the DanufilTM VY
multilimbed viscose rayon fibers available from Acordis UK Ltd., Spondon,
England. These fibers are described in detail in Wilkes et al., US Pat. No.
5,458,835 (EP 0 301874).
Preferably, the fibers include hydrophilic fibers, and more preferably,
the fibers include absorbent fibers, i.e., the individual fibers, themselves,
absorb
fluid. A useful, non-limiting list of useful tampon fibers includes natural
fibers
such as cotton, wood pulp, jute, hemp, and the like, and processed fibers such
as
regenerated cellulose, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, rayon, polyester,
polyvinyl alcohol, polyolefin, polyamine, polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, and
the
like. Other fibers in addition to the above fibers may be included to add
desirable
characteristics to the tampon. For example, hydrophobic fibers may be used in
outer surfaces of the tampon to reduce surface wetness and hydrophilic fibers
may
be used to increase the rate of fluid transport into and throughout the body.
Preferably, the tampon fibers are rayon or cotton, and more preferably, the
fibers
are rayon. The fibers may have any useful cross-section.
According to the figure, a preferred tampon 1 according to the invention
comprises an introduction end 2 and a recovery end 3, from which a withdrawal
string 4 extends. A first region 5 extends from the introduction end 2 in the
direction of the recovery end 3, whilst a second region 6 is located at the
recovery
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end 3 of the tampon 1. The tampon 1 has a longitudinal axis L, about which it
is
designed essentially cylindrically.
The first region 5 comprises a hydrophilic fibre mixture, composed, for
example, of pressed cellulose fibres that have high absorbency and expand
during
the absorption of a fluid. In particular, fibres known under the name GalaxyTM
or
rather viscose of VY Type, available via Acordis Industrial Fibers B.V.,
Netherlands, are suitable for this purpose.
By contrast, the second region 6 comprises hydrophobic fibres, such as
hydrophilic fibres treated with water repellant finishes; relatively
hydrophobic
fibers such as polyesters and polyamides; and substantially hydrophobic fibers
such as polyolefins (e.g., polypropylene and polyethylene), or multicomponent
fibers wherein one component such as polyester is enveloped by or is alongside
with another component such as polyethylene, polypropylene or a lower-melting
polyester. An example of treated hydrophilic fibres is cellulose fibres,
obtainable,
in particular, under the tradename DanufilTM, which are coated with a
hydrophobic
material, in particular with the coating BK 2047FL from the company Henkel,
and
hydrophilic fibres such as cellulose fibres, like Galaxy
In a preferred embodiment, the second region 6 is produced preferably as a
pressed fibre nonwoven from approximately 70% by weight of hydrophobic fibres
and approximately 30% by weight of hydrophilic fibres swelling up during the
absorption of a fluid. Based upon this description, it will be recognized that
the
second region may be at least partially fluid-permeable.
In order to be used for feminine hygiene, the tampon 1 is to be introduced
into a vaginal opening, not illustrated, in such a way that both its regions
5, 6 are
arranged in the vaginal opening. When an absorption of fluid by the tampon 1
occurs as a result of a fluid flow F in the vaginal opening, the fluid is
absorbed at
least partially within the tampon 1, to be precise in the first region 5. In
this case, a
fluid gradient G also occurs within the first region 5, until the interface
between the
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first region 5 and the second region 6 is reached. By virtue of the
hydrophobic
properties of the second region 6, part of the fluid reaching the interface is
then
deflected into the first region 5, so that the absorption capacity of the
first region 5
can be fully utilized. This, on the one hand, increases the quantity of fluid
absorbed
in the tampon 1 and also the dwell time of fluid within the tampon 1.
Moreover,
during the absorption of fluid, an expansion of the second region 6 ensures
that the
diameter of the second region 6 perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis L of
the
tampon 1 is larger than that of the first region 5 and therefore an engagement
of the
tampon 1 onto the walls of the vaginal opening takes place with the result
that the
vaginal opening is essentially sealed off, in order to prevent, or at least
markedly
reduce, a bypass leakage. The second region 6 thus forma a barrier in two
respects,
to be precise, on the one hand, by virtue of its properties for the deflection
of fluid
and, on the other hand, by virtue of its swelling-up during the absorption of
fluid.
The increase in the quantity of fluid absorbed in a tampon according to the
invention (absorption) and also 25 the dwell time of fluid in a tampon
according to
the invention (time) may also be gathered from the following table:
Attribute Standard Tampon of 2.6 g with a second region of 0.4 g
Tampon composed of
Fibre mixture of Fibre mixture of 100%
70% hydrophobic 90% hydrophobic hydro-
Danufil and 30% Danufil and phobic
hydrophilic 10% hydrophilic Danufil
GalaxyTM GalaxyTM
Absorption 15.9 17.2 1.7 16.3+1.1 15.0 1.0
(ml) 0.3
Time(sec) 9.5 1.2 11.4 1.2 11.4 1.5 10.4 0.9
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It is accordingly particularly advantageous if the weight of the material of
the second region 6 is between about 1/5 and about 1/6 of the total weight of
the
tampon 1 and comprises a fibre mixture which comprises about 70% by weight of
hydrophobic fibres and about 30% by weight of hydrophilic fibres.
The specification and embodiments above are presented to aid in the
complete and non-limiting understanding of the invention disclosed herein.
Since
many variations and embodiments 'of the invention can be made without
departing
from its spirit and scope, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter
appended.
